Chapter 1529: Borrowing Troops to Aid Suppression

Another, more important reason was that they feared the Han Empire's reaction and did not want to send a fleet that would provoke the Han court.

Perhaps because the empire had been built on commerce and trade, ever since its founding the Han Empire had placed great importance on overseas trade and had continuously expanded its exports. In addition to tirelessly increasing sales of traditional exports like silk, porcelain, and tea, it had now also developed an arms trade, while China's demand for goods such as timber, coal, and machinery was also growing larger by the day.

To protect its trade, the Han Empire had established a navy almost from the very beginning, and under the Emperor's personal oversight and support, the navy had developed extremely rapidly. Its fleet strength had been swelling continuously and soon became a feared power across the Pacific Ocean.

As its naval strength swelled, the Han navy's claimed sphere of influence swelled along with it. The fleet's patrol range extended farther and farther, to the point that it treated the coastal waters of China and Goryeo as the Han Empire's exclusive domain, barring foreign warships from entering freely.

At first, the Dutch naturally could not tolerate this outcome, so the Dutch fleet and the Han fleet clashed several times in conflicts of varying scale. In the early stages, relying on their navy's extensive seafaring experience, the Dutch held a slight advantage over the Han, but the Han navy soon caught up through rigorous training and live-combat drills, and its fleet also grew larger and larger, gradually gaining the upper hand in the clashes with the Dutch.

The Dutch soon realized that if they continued this hostile struggle with the Han navy, their Asian trade would inevitably fall into the most desperate of straits, because China possessed enormous resources. As long as it had the resolve to control the surrounding seas, it could afford the losses, whereas the Dutch lacked the means to fight such a war of attrition against China.

Since there was no hope in continuing to wear each other down, the Dutch, true to their mercantile nature, tacitly accepted the established reality of Han dominion over its surrounding waters and redoubled their efforts to cultivate good relations with the Chinese court and develop trade with China. After several years of effort, driven by the profits trade brought, both sides forgot their earlier unpleasantness and turned to trade cooperation, doing business on an ever-larger scale.

Like Japan, the Dutch had also established a trading post in Tianjin Port and stationed dedicated personnel there to handle bilateral trade and diplomatic negotiations. Meanwhile, the Han navy had been actively suppressing pirates and safeguarding normal, secure trade, quickly reducing merchant ship losses to a negligible level, which in turn made the Dutch feel that the Han navy's presence was actually beneficial to them.

Since trade with China was of paramount importance to the Dutch, and the Han navy de facto ruled those waters, it was no wonder that the East India Company's top brass and the Dutch Governor-General were so wary of sending a fleet to suppress pirates in that area. They could not afford to offend the Han Empire, nor did they wish to.

After several discussions, they ultimately decided to use the existing channels between the Netherlands and China to request that the Chinese court dispatch a naval fleet to sweep those waters clean again. They had already instructed the Dutch trade representative stationed in Tianjin to petition the Chinese court, and at the same time ordered their company staff in Japan to petition the Han trade representative in Nagasaki as well, helping them communicate with the Han court together.

Having received the order from company headquarters, Gozet naturally dared not be negligent and had come over today to plead with Liu Jing.

Of course, Liu Jing could not possibly tell him the inside story. On the contrary, he put on a face of utter shock.

"What? Has Mr. Gozet also been receiving a lot of pirate reports recently?"

"So your nation's merchant ships have been attacked as well?" Seeing Liu Jing's convincing performance, William Gozet immediately took it as truth and felt his mission now had a greater chance of success. "The Japan shipping route is vital to the trade of both our nations. Mr. Liu, I believe this is something we absolutely cannot ignore and must resolve as quickly as possible."

"Of course, of course!" Liu Jing nodded repeatedly. "I've recently received many reports from merchant ships that have been attacked by pirates. I was already preparing to report this information back home and request that they deal with it."

"Mr. Liu, it is excellent that you understand the gravity of the matter. With your help, your nation's government will surely make a sound judgment quickly." Overjoyed, Gozet saluted this Chinese official with Western etiquette. "Your nation's navy is outstanding. I am confident that under their efforts, calm will soon be restored to the seas, and the United Provinces will be deeply grateful for your nation's generous assistance."

He had served at sea for many years and had even taken part in the naval conflicts between the Netherlands and China many years ago. But now, after all these years of commercial exchange, he understood that circumstances were stronger than men, and he no longer had any desire to fight China again, preferring instead to join the East India Company's top brass in tacitly accepting the reality of the northern seas being monopolized by the Chinese.

"Of course, of course." Liu Jing still wore a face full of smiles and waved his hand repeatedly. Although he knew these Westerners were outwardly polite but inwardly cunning and could never be trusted lightly, the sight of a burly Western man acting obsequiously toward him was still somewhat amusing.

Naturally, he would not help them. These pirates would continue to run rampant until the Han navy had completed its preparations for the conquest of Japan.

Liu Jing had assumed that after he agreed to the Dutch request, Mr. Gozet would take his leave at an opportune moment. But after exchanging pleasantries with Gozet for a long while, the Dutch merchant still showed no sign of departing, and Liu Jing understood that the other man had something else to ask of him.

"Mr. Gozet, is there something else you need to discuss with me? If so, please speak plainly." Since he had many matters to attend to, Liu Jing had no desire to beat around the bush with him and went straight to the point.

The smile on Gozet's face suddenly vanished, his expression turning uncertain and troubled, clearly hesitating over something.

It seems there is something important. A flash of understanding crossed Liu Jing's mind, and he simply looked at the other man, waiting for him to come clean.

"In fact, you are right, Mr. Liu." After hesitating for a moment, Gozet finally made up his mind and abruptly lowered his voice. "Aside from the pirate matter, company headquarters has entrusted me with another issue. Because this matter is of the utmost importance, I must ask you to ensure that no one else here learns of it."

Seeing the other man's grave demeanor, the smile on Liu Jing's face slowly faded as well. He habitually glanced around, then immediately gave the other man his guarantee.

"Please rest assured. This is our Han Empire's trading post; no one else can eavesdrop here. Besides, our people here are all from the court. They know what's at stake and won't ask questions."

"Good. Then I must also ask Mr. Liu to keep this confidential for us." Gozet had made up his mind. "The company has informed me that they wish to seek aid from the Han Empire through you, to request that the merciful Han Emperor dispatch his navy to help us defeat the Spanish as soon as possible, to sweep those bandits from the seas of Asia, so that together we may monopolize all trade in Asia!"

"What?!" Although he had been somewhat mentally prepared, upon hearing this news, Liu Jing was still deeply shaken and only managed to process the other man's words with great difficulty. "Your country... your country wants to borrow our court's navy to fight the Spanish?"

He had been involved in maritime trade for many years and naturally knew the general situation of the Spanish. These Spaniards had arrived here during the late Ming years, easily occupied Luzon, and entrenched themselves there, painstakingly managing Luzon for many years. He had heard that the place was now covered with Spanish plantations.

He was not entirely clear on the conflict between the Dutch and the Spanish in the West, but he knew that over the years, the Spanish and the Dutch had been fighting ceaselessly here as well, waging war for many years.

However, although they had often clashed before, they had never involved China's side. This time, they had actually come directly to him to request that the Han Empire send troops to assist, which truly caught Liu Jing off guard.

Heavens, the court is racking its brains over sending troops to Japan right now — why have the Dutch suddenly brought up something like this?

"This... this... would be rather inappropriate, wouldn't it?" Liu Jing immediately muttered to himself in a low voice, not even knowing what he was saying himself. "Why... why does your country have such a request?"

"My country is facing a life-and-death struggle with the Spanish. We need to exert our full strength and even borrow external power." Gozet had anticipated his reaction and immediately continued his explanation. "Your nation's naval strength is formidable. As long as you are willing to lend us a hand, then in this struggle, at least here in Asia, our victory is assured."

As the other man explained, Liu Jing took several deep breaths and finally managed to somewhat regain his composure.

"This... this is a matter of great importance. Why... why has your country come to inform me of this?" He immediately sensed something was amiss. "If your country truly has such a request, wouldn't it be best to convey it directly to the court through your envoy in Tianjin?"

"Under normal circumstances, you are quite right. We would negotiate with your court through our people in Tianjin. But sometimes the situation is somewhat... special." Gozet's expression grew increasingly odd. "The situation right now is very special. We temporarily cannot communicate with your court through that channel."

"And why is that?" Liu Jing pressed, as was only natural.

"Because there are currently some differences of opinion between the Governor-General and the company. The people in Tianjin cannot be used for the time being."

Gozet then, with a troubled look, explained the inside story to Liu Jing.

As it turned out, in Batavia, within the East India Company, the recent debates had not been limited to the pirate matter alone. Because the war with Spain was protracted, the situation had been extremely tight the entire time, and it had consumed far too much manpower and financial resources, the idea of borrowing the Chinese court's navy to strike at the Spanish had begun to emerge among the company's top brass.